Rotary brush



Nov. 2'7, 1951 J. v. MERTES 2,576,408

ROTARY BRUSH Filed April 5, 1945 2. SHEETSSHEET l J. v. MERTES ROTARY BRUSH Nov. 27, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 5, 1945 SOFT gwumn/tom Jose-P4 M/Vzzre;

GQVRZA Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES 2,576,408 I :RGT-ARY BRUSH Joseph V. Mertes, Baltimore, Md assignor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company Allegh'iiy Coun'ty,fPa., a corporation of "Pennsylvania.

npplication npriit, 1945, i'SeriaLNo. $586,882

4 Claims. (01. Ill- 181) I This invention relates to :rotary brushes and it has particular relation to the mounting and assembly of metal bristles upon circular supporting members.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved assembly of knots of bristles on annular supporting members.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of assembling ir-nets of bristles on annular supporting members.

In one form of the invention, a metal disc is slotted to form radial fingers which are adapted to be bent and looped about a metal ring upon which the bristle knots are also looped and twisted. The fingers on opposite sides of each knot holds the latter in place. Additional discs can be welded on opposite sides of the slotted disc to overlap the ring and fingers so as to partially shield the looped portion of the knots and the fingers. Units of this type can be strung upon a shaft to form a substantially cylindrical rotary brush of whatever length that may be desired.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a rotary brush; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation, on a larger scale, illustrating the assembly of the elements of the brush and looking from right to left with reference to Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross section, on a larger scale, taken substantially along the line IVIV of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan of a notched disc forming a part of the brush assembly; and Fig. 6 is a plan of a knot of bristles.

In practicing the invention, a metal plate or disc I!) having a central opening I2 therein has its outer marginal portions cut out to form radial fingers I4 spaced regularly around the disc perimeter. A strong ring l5 arranged coaxially of the disc is mounted upon the fingers by bending or looping them around the ring to hold it properly aligned coaxially of the disc.

Knots or tufts of metal bristles 20 are looped about the ring between adjacent fingers l4 and the bristles of each knot are twisted together to fit snugly upon the ring. The knots are thus maintained evenly distributed around the circumference of the ring. It is to be understood that the knots can be applied to the ring I5 before the disc is applied thereto and the fingers M can then be bent into looped relation upon the ring with the knots and fingers alternating.

Further strengthening and protection of the knots is achieved by applying facing discs 2| ,2 on opposite sides of the disc T0 :and welding the three discs together, as indicated at 23, into ,a

rigid unitary assembly. Offset flanges J21 of the discs :21 overlap the .looped fingers M; and ring it. Therefore, each knot :20 is ebraced from four directions by (adjacent fingers M and the opposed flanges 224;. v

The discs .121 sare forme'd with central openings :25 registering with the opening :12 through all of which a shaft 30 can be mounted by sweating it to the discs in these openings. As many assembled units of rings, discs, and knots as desired can thus be strung rigidly upon the shaft 30 to construct a brush 34 of any length desired.

In order to facilitate the looping and twisting of the knots 20 upon each ring while maintaining the proper stiffness and hardness of the working ends of the bristles, the end portions 35 of the latter can be case-hardened or carburized by conventional methods, while the intermediate portions 36 of the bristles remain relatively soft and ductile. Wires or bristles of steel or other ferrous metal which can be treated in this manner can be employed in making knots according to the operations specified. Therefore, the intermediate softer portions of the knots are more adaptable to conform to and remain in twisted shape upon the rings than if such knots were composed of uniformly hard and stiff metal throughout their lengths. Likewise, the harder outer ends of the knots are particularly adapted to resist abrasion in connection with their brushing action. The wire knots or bristles thereof can be treated by applying carbonaceous material to the portions to be hardened and shielding the portions which are to remain relatively soft. Then the assembly is heated in a furnace according to well-known procedure in the art of hardening metals.

Although the invention has been shown and described only with reference to illustrative forms, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a rotary brush, a disc having integral radial fingers thereon spaced at regular intervals around its perimeter, a ring disposed coaxially of the disc, said fingers being looped around the ring in clamped relation in direct contact there- With to hold it in place, and knots of bristles looped about the ring and each knot being flanked by two of the fingers in successive mountthereon between adjacent fingers in braced relation to the latter.

3. In a rotary brush, a circular metal plate in- V eluding fingers projecting radially therefrom at regular intervals around its perimeter, a metal ring coaxially disposed upon the" plate, each finger being in looped form and embracing the ring in clamped relation in direct contact therewith to hold it coaxially disposed on the plate, knots of metal bristles-of twisted form looped about the ring and disposed radiallythereon between adjacent fingers inbracedrelation to the latter, and metal discs rigidly'secured upon opposite sides of said metal plate coaxially thereof and defining between the marginal portions of 'said discs a circumferential channel in which said fingers and ring are confined. a

4. In a rotary-brush construction, a ring, a

disc havingring-engaging marginal portions in the form of substantially radial fingers embracing and engaging the ring in looped and clamped relation in direct contact therewith, knots of bristles looped about the ring between and against adjacent looped fingers, and substantially complemental circular plates secured in face to face relation upon opposite sides of the disc and having annular offset portions extending in opposite directions from'the marginal portions of the disc adjacent the fingers, said plates having substantially parallel flanges extending radially from said ofiset portions along opposite sides of the looped portions of the bristles in contact therewith to hold the latter against pivotal movement transversely of the ring, and said flanges defining an annular channel in which the ring and fingers are confined.

JOSEPH V. MERTES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 'of record in the file of this patent:-

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 228,301 Bateman July 1, 1880 1,675,617 Radinse -1 July 3, 1928 7. 1,714,137 Radinse -1 May 21, 1929 1,990,025 Frost Feb, 5, 1935 

